Market for data analysis called a ‘race to the bottom’, with trials failing because of evidence issues

More than a dozen police forces have outsourced digital forensic investigative work to unaccredited private laboratories in the past year, at a time when a series of rape cases have been abandoned because of problems with digital evidence.

The collapse of four trials within two months because digital forensic evidence had not been shared with defence teams has shaken confidence in the criminal justice system and triggered a review of thousands of rape cases by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Experts concerned that despite rising number of reports under Modern Slavery Act 2015 few cases lead to charges

At least seven police forces in England have not charged a single person under modern slavery legislation introduced more than two years ago.

The Modern Slavery Act was put in place in May 2015 to make prosecution easier and help protect victims. But despite a rising number of reports under the act, several police forces have not charged anyone while others have done so only in one or two cases.